Liberalism of every degree and all forms has been formally
condemned; so much so (53) that outside of the motives of its
intrinsic malice, it stands under the formal ban of the Church,
which is sufficient for all faithful Catholics. It would be
impossible for an error so widespread and so radical to escape
condemnation.

Upon its appearance in France at the time of the Revolution,
the famous Declaration of the Rights of Man, which contains in
germ all the follies of Liberalism, was condemned by Pius VI.
Later the baneful doctrine infected all the countries of Europe.
In Spain it first took the name of Liberalism, under which it has
since been known everywhere.

Upon the occasion of the appearance of the first errors of De
Lamenais, Gregory XVI., in his Encyclical Marari Vos explicitly
condemned Liberalism, as it was then understood, taught, and
practiced by the constitutional governments of Europe. Later on,
when the full tide of the deplorable deluge had submerged all
Europe, carrying all before it, God raised up to His Church Pius
IX., who has justly passed into history as the Scourge of
Liberalism. Liberal error under all its forms, shapes, and shades
has been unmasked by this Pope. That his words might carry, as it
were, more authority on this question, Providence has willed that
these reiterated condemnations (54) of Liberalism should fall
from the lips of a Pontiff who, at the beginning of his
pontificate, was hailed by Liberalists as their own. But he left
no refuge to which their error might have resort. The numerous
Briefs and Allocutions of Pius IX have clearly shown to Christian
peoples what this baneful heresy is, and The Syllabus has put on
the final seal of condemnation. Let us see the principal contents
of some of the Pontifical documents. Amongst all that we might
place before our readers, we will cite only a few.

On the 18th of June, 1871, responding to a deputation of
French Catholics Pius IX spoke thus:

"Atheism in legislation, indifference in matters of
religion and the pernicious maxims which go under the name of
LiberalCatholicism are the true causes of the destruction of the
States; they have been the ruin of France. Believe me: the evil I
denounce is more terrible than the Revolution, more terrible even
than The Commune. I have always condemned Liberal Catholicism and
I will condemn it again forty times over if it be
necessary."

In a Brief, 6th of March, 1873, addressed to the Circle of St.
Ambrose of Milan, the Sovereign Pontiff thus expresses himself:

"People are not wanting who pretend to (55) form an
alliance between light and darkness, and to associate justice
with iniquity in favor of those doctrines called
LiberalCatholicism, which based on the most pernicious
principles, show themselves favorable to the intrusion of secular
power upon the domain of spirituals; they lead their partisans to
esteem, or, at least, to tolerate iniquitous laws, as if it were
not written that no one can serve two masters. Those who thus
conduct themselves, are more dangerous and more baneful than
declared enemies, not only because, without being warned of it,
perhaps even without being conscious of it, they second the
projects of wicked men, but also because, keeping within certain
limits, they show themselves with some appearance of probity and
sound doctrine. They thus deceive the indiscreet friends of
conciliation and seduce honest people, who would otherwise have
strenuously combated a declared error."

In the Brief of the 8th of May of the same year speaking to
the Confederation of the Catholic Circle of Belgium, the same
Holy Father said:

"What we praise above all in your religious enterprise is
the absolute aversion which, as we are informed, you show towards
the principles of LiberalCatholicism and your intrepid
determination to root them (56) out as soon as possible. In truth
you will extirpate the fatal root of discord and you will
efficaciously contribute to unite and strengthen the minds of all
in so combating this insidious error, much more dangerous than an
open enemy because it hides itself under the specious veil of
zeal and of charity, and in so endeavoring to protect the people
in general from its contaminating influence. Surely you who
adhere with such complete submission to all decisions of this
Apostolic Seat and who know its frequent reprobations of Liberal
principles, have no need of these warnings."

In the Brief to the La Croix, a Belgium journal, on the 24th
of May, 1874, the Pope thus expresses himself:

"We cannot do less than to praise the design expressed in
this letter, which we know your journal will satisfactorily
fulfill, the design to publish, to spread, to comment on and
inculcate in all minds all that the Holy See teaches against the
perverse or at least false doctrines professed in so many
quarters, and particularly against LiberalCatholicism, bitterly
striving to conciliate light with darkness and truth with
error."

On the 9th of June, 1873, Pius IX wrote to the president of
the Council of the Catholic Association of Orleans, and without
(57) mentioning its name, depicts pietistic and moderated
Liberalism in the following terms:

"Although you have not, strictly speaking, to combat
impiety, are you not perhaps menaced on this side by as great
dangers as those of the group of friends deceived by that
ambiguous doctrine, which, while rejecting the last consequence
of error, obstinately retains the germs, and which, not willing
to embrace the truth in its fullness, and not daring to abandon
it entirely, exhausts itself in interpreting the traditions and
teachings of the Church by running them through the mold of its
own private opinions."

In an address to the Bishop of Quimper, and speaking in
reference to the general assembly of the Catholic Association of
that diocese, the Pope said:

"Assuredly these associations are not wanting in the
obedience due to the Church, neither on account of the writings
nor the actions of those who pursue them with invectives and
abuse; but they might be pushed into the slippery path of error
by the force of those opinions called Liberal; opinions accepted
by many Catholics who are otherwise honest and pious, and who,
even by the very influence which gives them their piety, are
easily captivated and induced (58) to profess the most pernicious
maxims. Inculcate, therefore, Venerable Brother, in the minds of
this Catholic assembly that, when we have so often rebuked the
sectaries of these Liberal opinions, we have not had in view the
declared enemies of the Church, whom it would have been idle to
denounce, but rather that those, of whom we are speaking, are
such as secretly guard the virus of Liberal Principles which they
have imbibed with their mother's milk. They boldly inoculate this
virus into the people's minds, as if it were not impregnated with
a manifest malice, and as if it were as harmless to religion as
they think. They thus propagate the seed of those troubles which
have held the world in revolution so long. Let them avoid these
ambuscades. Let them endeavor to direct their blows against this
perfidious enemy, and certainly they will merit much from their
religion and their country."

With these utterances from the mouth of the Vicar of Jesus
Christ our friends as well as our enemies must see that the Pope
has said in divers briefs, and particularly in the last citation,
in a general way all that can be said on this question, which we
are studying in its details. (59)